BARTON COUNTY
105
of
SUSANK ODIN
GALATIA BEAVER
OLMITZ
CLAFLIN
HOISINGTON
ALBERT
PAWNEE ROCK
GREAT BEND ELLINWOOD
O
lmitz, located in the far western center of Barton County, was laid out in 1885, by people whose descendants came from Austria-Hungary, which today is referred to as the Czech Republic. Referred to then as a “city on a hill,” it enjoyed a solid trade from nearby farms. Located on what was then the Missouri Pacific Railroad, it was visited often by a reporter from the Hoisington Dispatch. Olmitz is most widely known for St. Ann’s Catholic Church, the steeple of which can be seen for miles atop the hill where the city is located. St. Ann’s congregation built a parochial school there in 1913. We found mention of it in the May 22, 1913 Hoisington Dispatch. “The mason work of the new parochial school at Olmitz is nearing completion and in a short time we will see CITY COUNCIL Mayor – Curtis Peterson Councilman - Josh Tessendorf Councilwoman - Karla Hagans Councilwoman - Ashley Elsen Council Members meet at 7:00 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at the Olmitz City Building, 219 Main Street. Council members can be reached at 620-586-3311
it finished. After the school is finished work will begin immediately on the new Catholic church and after those two grand structures are erected those so-called “knockers” who have been busy trying to give Olmitz and the people around it a bad name, will have to “go way back and sit down.” Once the church was completed, the congregation raised funds to purchase stained glass windows from CITY DEPARTMENTS City Clerk — Krisa Schneider Streets — Tom Schneider Treasurer — Krisa Schneider Sewer & Water — Tom Schneider City Attorney — Travis Terns Municipal Judge — Joel Jackson UTILITIES AND SERVICES Electricity Western Cooperative Electric 800-456-6720
Europe, and for the 100 year anniversary, they were cleaned, repaired and professionally restored, and continue to provide beauty and inspiration to all who enter St. Ann’s. From Great Bend, take K-96 west out of town about 17 miles, then turn right at the marker for Olmitz. The rest of the drive will take you through rolling countryside. While today there are but a few buildings left on the west Natural Gas Midwest Energy, 620-792-1301 Trash Service Unruh Brothers Waste LLC Great Bend – 620-792-2257 Medical Care Clara Barton Hospital 250 W. Ninth, 620-653-2114 Animal Control Golden Belt Humane Society – 620792-4297
side of Main Street, the town was once home to restaurants, saloons, barber shops, a hotel and a dance hall, and a drug store, operated by Edmund Reimer. Reimer, an immigrant from either Austria or Australia (depending on what newspaper he’s listed in) married a first-generation Olmitz girl. They started a family and a business, and lived in Olmitz for many years before moving to Cimarron. Recycling Sunflower Diversified Recycling 5605 10th St., Great Bend – 620-793-5800 U.S. Post Office 223 Main St., 620-586-3319 Zip Code 67564
